Influx of refugees from Cameroon into Ogoja balloons to 10,000 as fighting there worsens

CROSS River State has been flooded with a huge influx of Cameroonian refugees as the ongoing crisis in the country between the government and Anglophone Western Cameroon has escalated over recent weeks.

Taken over from Germany at the start of World War One by Nigerian-commanded British troops, western Cameroon was incorporated in the British Empire and subsequently became English-speaking. In 1960 when Nigeria became independent, however, western Cameroon opted to rejoin the rest of its French-speaking brethren as France had taken over the rest of the country from Germany using troops from Congo.

Over recent years, however, these Anglophone/Francophone have come to the fore with the English-speaking minorities being subject to fierce state brutality. Cameroon's French-speaking government has sent in troops to put down what is seen as a rebellion, creating a humanitarian disaster, forcing thousands of refugees to flee across the border into neighbouring Nigeria.

Last week, the number of these refugees in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State ballooned to 10,000 in a camp that was originally designed for 4,000 people. Hilary Agida, a member of staff of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, said this influx had led to facilities being overstretched.

He said an additional camp was created to accommodate the influx but that one too has been over flooded, thus, making the situation desperate for the state government alone to handle.

Mr Agida added that as the camps are under United Nations supervision, the international community needs to assist by helping provide a speedy resolution to the conflict so that the refugees can return to their homes and live peacefully.

Mr Agida said: “There are two refugee camps here in Ogoja, one is in Adagom and the other at Akpakpanga and both camps have been witnessing a steady influx of refugees, effectively over stretching the facilities. Something must be done to address the situation before we witness a disaster here.

“Outside providing a settlement for these people, the UN should intervene and ensure a speedy resolution of the crisis so that these people can take their children home and provide them adequate education."

He explained that the fighting between those agitating for independence in southern Cameroon and security agencies started in 2017. Donating the food stuff to the refugees, the zonal president of the National Association of Sea Dogs, Prince Joseph Besong said the donation of bags of rice, tubers of yams, gari and toiletries were to assist with their upkeep.